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Ben Miller

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For other people named Ben or Benjamin Miller, see Benjamin Miller (disambiguation).

Ben Miller
Miller at the 2008 BAFTA Television Awards
Born
Bennet Evan Miller

(1966-02-24) 24 February 1966 (age 58)
London, England, United Kingdom
EducationNatural sciences
Alma materSt Catharine's College, Cambridge
Occupation(s)Comedian, director, actor
SpouseBelinda Stewart-Wilson (2004 2011 Divorced)
PartnerJessica Parker
ChildrenTwo sons

Bennet Evan "Ben" Miller (born 24 February 1966)[1] is an English comedian, actor and director. He is best known as one half of comedy double act Armstrong and Miller, along with Alexander Armstrong and for starring as James Lester on ITV's science fiction programme Primeval. Miller and Armstrong wrote and starred in the Channel 4 sketch show Armstrong and Miller, and the more recent BBC television sketch show The Armstrong and Miller Show. As of 2011, he is starring in the crime drama series Death in Paradise.

Early life and education

Miller was born in London, England, and grew up in Nantwich, Cheshire.[2] His paternal grandfather was a Lithuanian-born tailor who lived in London's East End;[3] his father, Michael Miller, was a lecturer in American Literature at the City of Birmingham Polytechnic; and his Welsh mother, Marion, taught English at South Cheshire College.[3] He has two younger sisters, Leah and Bronwen.

He was educated at Malbank School and Sixth Form College, his local comprehensive school in Nantwich, Cheshire. He then studied natural sciences at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he acted with and dated Rachel Weisz.[4][5] He remained at Cambridge to study for a Ph.D. in quantum physics, entitled "Novel quantum effects in low-temperature quasi-zero dimensional mesoscopic electron systems".

Miller's interest in comedy began when a friend asked him to help ferry around the judges of the National Student Drama Festival, which was being held that year in Cambridge.[6] Having already finished his undergraduate degree, he then joined the Footlights in 1989 alongside the likes of Andy Parsons, David Wolstencroft and Sue Perkins and went on to direct a revue.[7]

Career

Miller decided not to continue his doctorate studies and moved to London to pursue a career in comedy.[8] He was introduced to fellow Cambridge graduate Alexander Armstrong in 1992, at the TBA Sketch Comedy Group, a comedy club which ran at the Gate Theatre Studio, Notting Hill throughout the 1990s. They performed their first full-length show at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1994, and returned in 1996, whereupon they were nominated for the Perrier Comedy Award.[9]

Their success resulted in the commissioning of the television series Armstrong and Miller, which ran for four series in total from 1997 to 2001 – one on the Paramount Comedy Channel, and three on Channel 4. The duo had their own radio show with the same name on BBC Radio 4 in 1998, which featured many of the sketches and characters from their TV series, and a second show, Children's Hour with Armstrong and Miller, later in the same year. After a six-year break, the show was recommissioned for Hattrick Productions as The Armstrong and Miller Show and is currently in its third series.[10]

In 2001, Miller starred in Steve Coogan's first feature film, the British comedy The Parole Officer.[11] In 2003 he played the role of 'Bough', sidekick to Rowan Atkinson's title character in the film Johnny English. In 2004 he co-starred in The Prince and Me. In 2004 and 2005, he starred in two consecutive series of the BBC television series The Worst Week of My Life,[12] alongside Sarah Alexander,[2] followed in 2006 by a three-part Christmas special, The Worst Christmas of My Life. Since 2007 he is starring as James Lester in ITV's sci-fi drama Primeval,[9] and as Mr Jonathan in the Australian film Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance.[6]

From 2001 until 2007, Miller provided the voice for the ITV Digital and now PG Tips Monkey, in a popular series of television advertisements featuring Johnny Vegas.[13]

In 2008, he appeared in three ITV1 series, as television producer Jonathan Pope in Tony Jordan's series Moving Wallpaper. He also starred in Thank God You're Here.

In 2010 he made his directorial debut with the film Huge.

In 2011 (as revealed by Miller on Twitter), he will reprise his role as James Lester in Primeval.

One of his more recent successes, is starring in the hit BBC TV Series Death in Paradise, where he plays DI Richard Poole.

Since November 2011, he has been in The Ladykillers at the Gielgud Theatre playing Louis Harvey.

2012 - Filming Series 2 of Death in Paradise in Guadeloupe until October. Also launched his book 'It's Not Rocket Science' opening a book tour at the Royal Society on July 23rd in London. Also has appeared at the C4 British Comedy Awards with Alexander Armstrong, has filmed an episode of 'Room 101' and a 'Comic Relief' Pointless Special, both due to air early 2013.

Series 2 of Death in Paradise premiers on BBC1, Tuesday 8th January at 9pm for 8 episodes. Ben has also been filming in 'Molly Moon' a feature film due for release in 2013. Reference citations to follow.

Production

Miller directed a television pilot, which subsequently became the first episode of Steve Coogan's 2006 British BBC TV Comedy series Saxondale. With Armstrong, he has formed a production company named Toff Media.

Awards

Miller was awarded a Judges' Commendation for his portrayal of Hamlet at the 1990 National Student Drama Festival. He co-wrote MindGym, winner of the first BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Award for comedy in 1998, with Tim Wright and Adam Gee. He and Armstrong won a BCA Award for The Armstrong and Miller Show. In 2010 they also won a BAFTA for The Armstrong and Miller Show.

[14]

Personal life

Miller was married to Belinda Stewart-Wilson (who guest-starred with him in Series 3 of Primeval). They divorced in 2011 after a 2 year separation. The couple lived in Maida Vale. They have a son, Jackson a.k.a Sonny, (born 2006). Miller also has a son, Harrison born late 2011, with his partner, production executive Jessica Parker.[15][16]

A talented musician, Miller plays the guitar and drums[2] and likes yoga.[12] At school Miller played in a band called Aquilae which performed prog rock and not, as has been previously stated,[according to whom?] Eagles covers translated into Latin.[17] His fictitious school band, Slide Rule, which featured in sketches from the first A&M TV series, is believed to be an affectionate homage to the legendary Section B.[citation needed] At St Catharine's, he played in a band called the Dear Johns, with Andy Edwards and Eoin Patterson.[citation needed] They released one 7 in single, entitled "Shame".[citation needed]

Miller is often mistaken for Rob Brydon,[4][12] with whom he appeared on an episode of QI, first broadcast on 20 February 2009 (Series 6. 9). As a joke, they dressed in similar shirts and shared a narcissistic kiss.[18][19]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1991 Murder Most Horrid P.C. Watkins TV series (1 episode: "He Died a Death")
1993 French and Saunders TV series (1 episode: "The Silence of the Lambs")
Paul Merton: The Series Various TV series (6 episodes)
1995 Casualty Daniel Murdoch TV series (1 episode: "Trials and Tribulations")
Look at the State We're In! Marty TV mini-series
Sardines Simon TV film
1997 The Jack Docherty Show Various TV series
The Armstrong and Miller Show Various Roles TV series (27 episodes: 1997–2001)
1999 Plunkett and Macleane Dixon
Hunting Venus Gavin TV film
Passion Killers Nick TV film
Coming Soon Ben TV film
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert French Officer Video
2000 You Can't Dance Short
Tip of My Tongue Dave Short
Cinderella Dandini TV film
The Blind Date Joe Maxwell
There's Only One Jimmy Grimble Johnny Two Dogs
2001 The Parole Officer Colin
Birthday Girl Concierge
Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible Rebenor TV series (1 episode: "Lesbian Vampire Lovers of Lust")
2002 Surrealissimo: The Trial of Salvador Dalí Yoyotte TV film
The Book Group Martin Logan TV series (2 episodes)
Jeffrey Archer: The Truth Roland Moxley-Nemesis TV film
2003 Johnny English Angus Bough
The Actors Clive
2004 The Prince and Me Søren
Agatha Christie's Marple Basil Blake TV film
Doc Martin Stewart James TV series (1 episode: "The Portwenn Effect")
The Worst Week of My Life Howard Steel TV series (17 episodes: 2004–2006)
2005 Malice Aforethought Dr. Edmund Bickleigh TV film
Starry Night Short
Doc Martin Stewart James TV series (1 episode: "Out of the Woods")
2006 Popetown The Priest TV series (10 episodes)
Saxondale Bernard Langley TV series (1 episode: "Episode #1.6")
2007 Razzle Dazzle Mr Jonathon
The Armstrong and Miller Show Various Roles TV series (19 episodes: 2007–2010)
Primeval James Lester TV series (30 episodes [credited for 36]: 2007–2011)
2008 Moving Wallpaper: The Mole Jonathan Pope TV series short (2 episodes: uncredited)
Moving Wallpaper Jonathan Pope TV series (18 episodes: 2008–2009)
2009 Comic Relief 2009 TV film
Within the Whirlwind Krasny
The Catherine Tate Show Ghost of Christmas Past TV series (1 episode "Nan's Christmas Carol")
QI Himself Comedy Panel Show (1 episode "The Future")
2010 4.3.2.1 Mr Philips
2011 Episodes Himself TV series (1 episode)
Johnny English Reborn Angus Bough Scenes Deleted[20]
Death in Paradise - Series 1 DI Richard Poole Series 1, 8 episodes
Felix and Murdo Various One-off special on Channel 4 on the 28th December with Alexander Armstrong
2012/13 Death in Paradise - Series 2 DI Richard Poole Series 2, 8 episodes

References

  1. ^ Ben Miller on TV.com TV.com – 12 March 2011
  2. ^ a b c HOW WE MET: Sarah Alexander & Ben Miller Independent on Sunday – 7 March 2004 Cite error: The named reference "HWM1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Paton, maureen (19 July 2009). "In a Taxi with Ben Miller". You – The Mail on Sunday: 49.
  4. ^ a b This much I know: Ben Miller The Observer – 24 February 2008
  5. ^ Rachel's Weisz guy Mail on Sunday – 5 June 2005
  6. ^ a b Ben dazzles 'em news.com.au – 4 March 2007
  7. ^ "The Cambridge Footlights: First steps into comedy". independent.co.uk. 28 January 2009.
  8. ^ The Armstrong & Miller Show – Armstrong and Miller BBC Press Office – 12 October 2007
  9. ^ a b Star of Primeval and The Armstrong and Miller Show cult.tv
  10. ^ "Ben Miller Twitter post on 2nd series". Twitter. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  11. ^ Coogan's out on Parole BBC News – 10 August 2001
  12. ^ a b c The 5-Minute Interview: Ben Miller The Independent – 21 December 2005
  13. ^ Al and monkey bring back the monkey magic Unilever Press Dept
  14. ^ Grant, Olly (25 October 2011). "Death in Paradise, Ben Miller on heatstroke, getting divorced and his potato years, interview". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  15. ^ Rees, Caroline (11 September 2010). "Ben Miller: My family values". The Guardian. London.
  16. ^ "My Perfect Weekend: Ben Miller". The Daily Telegraph. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  17. ^ Ben Miller 'It's not rocket science' talk to Royal Institution|19 July 2012|
  18. ^ "QI". 20 February 2009. BBC 1. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  19. ^ Series 6: Episode 9 of 12 BBC QI Broadcasts – Accessed 20 May 2010
  20. ^ Deleted Scenes from Blu-Ray/DVD extras

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